Bag-jaw fastener.



R. L. PRAHAR. BAG JAW FASTENER. APPLIOATION PILEVD I'EB.26, 1912.

1,025,157. I Patented May 7,1912.

/$T /2 J y HHHI' admin WITNESSES M ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. b. c.

ROBERT I. IPIlEtAI-IAI-k F MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK.

BAG-J AW PASTE-NEE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1912.

Patented May '7, 1912.

Serial No. 679,812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. PRAHAR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Massapequa, Nassau county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-J aw Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvelttl ments in bag jaw fasteners, and more particularly to that type of fastener in which there are two projecting members on the two jaws so mounted and so formed that when the jaws are closed these projecting members snap past each other and hold the jaws together. This type of fastener commonly has two balls or knobs constituting the terminal portions of the projecting members and at the same time constituting finger pieces by which the jaws may be opened.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for preventing the bag from being accidentally opened,

which means serves to positively lock the two jaws together when in operative position.

In its preferred embodiment my improved device includes a pivoted member carried by one of the jaws, and movable to a position between the two fastening members on the bag so as to prevent them from accidentally springing back past each other.

My invention may assume various different forms within the scope as it is evident that the looking member may be mounted in various different positions.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to which reference is to be had, I have illustrated two forms which may be employed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bag jaw constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 38 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a top plan view of a second form, the knob of the locking device being broken away; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

In the first form illustrated my invention is applied to a common type of handbag or pocketbook, in which there are two jaws 10 and 11 pivoted together in the ordinary manner, and carrying the body portion of I the bag or pocketbook. The two jaws have two projecting members 12 and 13 carried thereby, and these two members terminate in balls, knobs, or heads 14: and 15, which when the bag is closed, snap or spring past each other and hold the bag in closed position. These partsmay be fashioned in any suitable manner and may be copied after any well known form already in use. My invention relates to the means for locking these two fastening members together, and in the first form illustrated includes a member 16 pivoted to the jaw 10 and movable in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the plane of the jaws. This member terminates in a ball, knob or head 17 similar to the parts 1 1 and 15, but adapted to lie beyond them, and out of contact with them. The body portion of the member 16 is adapted to lie between the two knobs 14 and 15, and extends in a diagonal direction across the meeting line of the two jaws, and substantially parallel to the member 13, so that the knob 15 cannot possibly spring past the knob let while the member 16 is in posit-ion. Any suitable means may be employed for limiting the movement of the member 16 toward the jaws. As shown the member is provided with a stop 18 which engages with the jaw 10. When it is desired to open the bag, it is merely necessary to lift the knob 17 to bring the member 16 out from bet-ween the knobs 14 and 15, and the latter may then be sprung past each other and the bag opened in the ordinary manner. This opening operation may be readily accomplished with one hand and without any particular effort. No parts can move into position between the jaws and prevent the jaws from closing when the bag is open, and there are no parts which can become readily detached, bent or broken.

As previously stated, my invention may assume various different forms. In the second form illustrated, the locking member is not only pivoted but also slidable. This member 16 is in the form of a rod slidable in suitable guides 19 on the jaw 10, and having an upwardly projecting end 20 which may swing about the base portion as a pivot. The end terminates in a ball or knob 17 by means of which the end portion 20 may be moved into position between the two knobs 14 and 15. To prevent it from moving all the way through, I may provide the two knobs 14 and 15 with grooves or recesses for receiving the upstanding end portion 20 of the member 16*. In opening the bag it is merely necessary to press laterally on the knob 17 and the member 1 6 will have a swinging and sliding movement to bring it out of operative position, and permit the springing or snapping of the knobs 14 and 15 past each other. It will be noted that in this form I use the grooves or recesses in the knobs instead of a stop to limit movement of the locking member. These same grooves could be employed in the form first described in place of the stop 18, or the stop 18 could be employed in the form last above described.

Other changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws and projections thereon adapted to spring past each other and retain the jaws in closed position, of a locking meinber carried by one jaw and movable to a position between said members to prevent their relative movement.

2. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws and projections thereon adapted to spring past each other and retain the jaws in closed position, of a locking member pivoted to one jaw and movable to a position between said members to prevent their rela tive movement.

3. In combination two movable members having projections thereon, the terminal portions of which are adapted to spring past each other to retain said members in a predetermined position, a locking device pivoted to one of said members, and having a bar portion movable to a position between said terminal portions at an angle to their lines of movement in springing past each other to prevent relative movement of said terminal portions and means for preventing the movement of said bar portion in one direction past said position.

4. The combination with a pair of pivoted jaws of projections thereon having balls or knobs adapted to spring past each other and retain the aws in closed position, one of said balls or knobs having a recess therein and a locking bar movable to a position within said recess to prevent the relative movement of said balls or knobs.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT L. PRAHAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

